Ministry of Textiles
Textiles Ministry releases 02 Quality Control Orders for 20 items of Agro Textiles and 06 items of Medical Textiles to be effective from 1.04.2024 in 2nd phase of QCOs on technical textiles
In mass consumption items of Medical textiles like Sanitary Pads and baby diapers, self help groups are exempted from QCO while Micro and Small units are given relaxation for 1 year so as facilitate penetration without affecting availability.
2 Quality Control Orders  for 19 Geo Textiles and 12 Protective Textiles issued in 1st phase to be effective from 7th October 2023
QCOs are equally applicable to domestic manufacturers as well as foreign manufacturers who intend to export their products to India
QCOs will ensure the standard and quality of Technical Textiles and encourage the growth of this industry in India
Ministry of Textiles announced the launch of 02 Quality Control Orders  for 06 items of Medical textiles and 20 items of Agro-textiles and in the Phase-II, following the due process for notification of Technical Regulations including stakeholder consultation, legal vetting, amongst others according to DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Medical textiles QCO encompass a range of products vital to healthcare and hygiene. The products covered under this QCO include Sanitary Napkins, Medical textiles -Shoe covers, Medical textiles -Dental bib/Napkins, Disposable baby diaper, Reusable sanitary pad/ sanitarynapkin/ period panties andMedical textiles -Bed sheet and pillow cover.
Notably, Ministry of Textiles has exempted Self-Help Groups  from the Meditech QCOs, fostering small-scale production for the essential products namely Sanitary Napkins, Baby Diapers, and Reusable Sanitary Pad/Sanitary Napkin/Period Panties.
Also, for the Micro and Small  industry manufacturing Sanitary Napkins, Baby Diapers, and ReusableSanitary Pad/Sanitary Napkin/Period Panties, the Medical textiles QCO shall come into force on the 01st of October 2024 providing them sufficient time to comply with QCO conformity. For the other Medical textiles items and the general industry, this Medical textiles QCO shall come into force on the 01st April 2024.
The conformity assessment requirements specified in these QCOs are equally applicable to domestic manufacturers as well as foreign manufacturers who intend to export their products to India. The Indian Government is of the opinion that it is necessary so to do in the public interest to increase the standard and quality of Agrotextiles and Medicaltextiles.
Agrotextiles QCO shall come into force on the 01st of April 2024. This QCO is of paramount importance to the agricultural community and aims to enhance the quality and performance of the Agro textiles products, ensuring that farmers have access to reliable & durable solutions for their agricultural needs. It encompasses a wide range of products designed to enhance agricultural and horticultural practices including the following:
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S. No.
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Product Title
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S. No.
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Product Title
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1
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Textiles—Polypropylene Spun Bonded Non—Woven Crop Cover and Fruit Skirting Bags for Agriculture and Horticulture Applications
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11
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Agro Textiles—Windshield netsforagriculture and horticulture purpose
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2
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Agro Textiles—Insect nets forAgricultureand Horticulture purpose
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12
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Agro Textiles—Harvest netsfor
Agricultureand horticulturepurposes
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3
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Agro Textiles—Woven Ground coversforHorticulture Application
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13
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Agro textiles —Fencing netsfor
Agricultureand horticulturepurposes—Specification Part 1 Fencingnets made from extruded polymermesh
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4
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Jute Agro textiles for Growth of PlantsandSuppression of Weeds
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14
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Agro textiles —Fencing netsfor
agriculture and horticulture purposes —Specification Part 2 Fencing nets made from mono filament yarns and combination of tape and mono filament yarns
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5
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Agro Textiles—High DensityPolyethylene woven beds for vermiculture
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15
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Agro Textiles —Plant Support NetsforAgriculture and Horticulture Purposes
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6
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Jute Agro—textile—Sapling bagsforgrowth of seedling /sapling
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16
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Agro Textiles —HighDensity
Polyethylene  Laminated Woven Lay Flat Tube and Fittings for use inRain Irrigation System
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7
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Agro Textile—High DensityPolyethylene laminated woven lay flat tube for irrigation purpose
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17
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Agro—Textiles Flexible WaterStorageTank for Agriculture andHorticulture Purposes
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8
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Agro Textiles—NylonKnitted
seamless gloves fortobacco harvesters
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18
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Agro—Textiles Hail Protection Nets for Agriculture and Horticulture Purposes Specification Part1 Warp Knitted Hail Protection Nets
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9
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Agro Textiles Highdensity
polyethylene  laminated woven lay flat tube for use inmains and submains of drip irrigation system
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19
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Agro—Textiles Hail Protection NetsforAgriculture and Horticulture Purposes Specification Part 2 Woven HailProtection Nets
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10
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Agro Textiles —PropyleneSpun
bonded non—woven mulch matfor agriculture and horticulture applications
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20
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Agro—Textiles LaminatedWovenOrchard ProtectionCovers
QCOs are essential for safeguarding the interests of consumers and supporting the growth of the Technical Textiles sector. This will strive to provide best value to the users and end consumers, thereby fostering Indian product quality that is comparable to global standards.
2 QCOs issued in 1st phase for 19 items of Geo-textiles and 12 items of Protective textiles will come into effect from 7th October 2023.
In Phase-III, around 30 more Technical Textiles items in the areas of building textiles, industrial textiles, ropes & cordages among others, may be considered for QCO issuance.